New born baby vest recommendations |
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Orlando76
Grand Poobah Joined: May-21-2013 Location: Mount Dora, FL Status: Offline Points: 3108 |
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Posted: May-23-2015 at 11:35am |
So I've been researching this topic. Any recommendations for new born's? Seems like I'm finding more info for toddlers. Obviously head support and crotch strap is critical.
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JDD33
Senior Member Joined: October-20-2012 Location: Natick, MA Status: Offline Points: 499 |
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Our kids were on the ocean boat within months of being born. We found that keeping them in the baby car seat(bucket) gave them the support and protection they needed and a doting mother or grandparent provided enough safety. Once they progressed to holding themselves up and sitting up we progressed to the infant/toddler life vests. We tried several on to find a style that didn't restrict them around the neck area and made the boating much more enjoyable for everyone!
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Old school goin back to school!
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Morfoot
Grand Poobah Joined: February-06-2004 Location: South Lanier Status: Offline Points: 5320 |
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John nailed it! Did the exact same thing with both girls.
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"Morfoot; He can ski. He can wakeboard.He can cook chicken.He can create his own self-named beverage, & can also apparently fly. A man of many talents."72 Mustang "Kermit",88 SN Miss Scarlett, 99 SN "Sherman"
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Orlando76
Grand Poobah Joined: May-21-2013 Location: Mount Dora, FL Status: Offline Points: 3108 |
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I wouldn't have thought leaving them in the carrier would be legal. I don t really see anything wrong with it.
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Morfoot
Grand Poobah Joined: February-06-2004 Location: South Lanier Status: Offline Points: 5320 |
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I don't think it is but then back when S&T were that small, GA didn't have a mandatory Life Jacket Law....It does now! You have to be 14 and up I believe to be under way and life jacket free!
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"Morfoot; He can ski. He can wakeboard.He can cook chicken.He can create his own self-named beverage, & can also apparently fly. A man of many talents."72 Mustang "Kermit",88 SN Miss Scarlett, 99 SN "Sherman"
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74Wind
Grand Poobah Joined: August-02-2011 Location: Georgia Status: Offline Points: 2101 |
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We had my son out at about a month old, had a nice Stearns as I recall he didn't fuss much.
Do car seats float? Hmmmmm...... . |
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1974 Southwind 18
1975 Century Mark II |
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JDD33
Senior Member Joined: October-20-2012 Location: Natick, MA Status: Offline Points: 499 |
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We have the same life jacket rules up here, however with the kids being so small and needing the head and neck support we felt it was the safest way for them to travel while underway. There were also several XL life jackets close by that could be bucked around if there was a major emergency.
Maybe this is the next idea in boating safety, floating baby bucket? Or an inflatable ring to attach to the bucket... Hmmmmm..... Dibs on the patent! |
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Old school goin back to school!
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74Wind
Grand Poobah Joined: August-02-2011 Location: Georgia Status: Offline Points: 2101 |
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There ya go, fit it with one of the "inflates-when-it-hits-the-water" setups like the fishermen wear. I'll take just 25 percent off your patent for the idea......
when my kids were little I had the advantage of being an E & B Marine manager... Took one of each out of stock for a "demo" weekend till we found the one that was just right..... |
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1974 Southwind 18
1975 Century Mark II |
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Russman
Groupie Joined: May-11-2015 Location: Ohio Status: Offline Points: 66 |
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Absolute outdoor / Kent make a product called BabySafe that works very well and is CG rated as a type II marine near shore vest.
Kent is the company that makes all vests for liquid Force, Obrien, Costco, HO, Hyperlite, Connelly, Overtons, etc. |
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1989 2001 SN / Prior 1978 Cobalt 18
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cboland
Senior Member Joined: July-15-2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Status: Offline Points: 185 |
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I can't offer much guidance on a specific product for a newborn. Our experience was that he hated everything we tried as they all seemed to swallow him up and make him uncomfortable. The first summer is just a tough one. I would not be strapping my baby into the car seat on a boat - can't think of a much worse thing to do.
Fast forward to this summer when he's a toddler and things are much better. The vests actually fit, but my wife brought home a USCG approved "puddle jumper" the other day. He seems to like it as an alternative to the vest and it says right on the label that it can be used as a Type III PFD substitute. I haven't run into a DNR ranger to see what they have to say, but seems like a great alternative to a restrictive vest if it's legit. http://www.amazon.com/Stearns-Puddle-Jumper-Deluxe-Jacket/dp/B003648OQY/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8 |
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Bud
1999 Sport Nautique |
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MechGaT
Senior Member Joined: March-09-2015 Location: Chattanooga Status: Offline Points: 271 |
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My wife, her mom, and grandmother won't even let me think about taking our 11 month old out. I understand my wife's point that it can add stress when he gets restless or fussy, but she is worried about the safety as well. With the right life jacket, I see no issue. I would never put a baby in a carrier though. It would be far too likely that it is going to land any direction but up, and if it fills with water, like someone else said, will it float? I've not seen a CG approved carrier. We have a puddle jumper for my daughter that we used the last couple of years. Only issue was when she wanted to do a tow activity. We had to change life jackets because it isn't approved for that. Great for swimming at the lake or at the pool. Now that she is almost 6, it will be a pool only pfd.
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'92 Sport Nautique
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Toertel
Gold Member Joined: August-26-2013 Location: Atlanta Status: Offline Points: 775 |
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Just saw a MC where the parents rigged a the car seat as a swing on the tower.
Baby was happy all day ling |
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1994 Sport Nautique
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AAM196
Gold Member Joined: October-23-2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Status: Offline Points: 846 |
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Haha... I can't believe I am not doing this type of thing anymore!!!
Not really a safe pdf for the baby till they have neck control... so just make sure you have enough flotation for the two of you! Take the removable car seat like others have stated! More importantly get the baby a UV suit! and hat and proper shade! Get a bejorn thing like Zack Galifanakis wore in hang over... LOL... as goofy as they are... you can do a lot with the baby in it (prob need to be 3months or older thou). 5 years ago... we took our 4 month old with our 3 and 4 year old to the BVIs for a week on a 40' monohull sailboat... we basically hung the car carrier like a hammock and kept the baby hidden from the sun as much as possible... When we are boating, kids of all ages are always happier! Play harder and sleep harder! |
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NorrisSki
Newbie Joined: February-23-2013 Location: MA Status: Offline Points: 10 |
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Had our daughter out as early as 8 weeks old last summer with an Overton's infant vest. She did well with it. It fits snug and she usually fell asleep when she had it on. USCG approved. Here is the link:
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Overtons-Infant-BioLite-Life-Jacket&i=769296&swatch=YEL |
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spiralhelix
Senior Member Joined: August-06-2014 Location: IL/WI Status: Offline Points: 496 |
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This is a great post as our 1st child is expected Labor Day weekend. That is going to make for a tough decision that weekend on where my priorities will lie. I'm guessing hospital straight to footin' for the wee little one is out of the cards?
-Spiral |
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